I heard on NPR earlier today and interview with some author

[whistle]

...about America's obsession with "stuff", and things material. This person said that in the last 45 years, Americans have accumulated and consumed more material possessions than all other human beings have prior in all of the past history. That was a pretty sweeping statement. Is that a known fact? How would that be calculated?

I know that I have a lot of stuff, but gee-sh, if I were to take all on the humans in my blood line who came before me, rich and poor, I would not have to go back very many generations before the stuff they owned would top what I have in my possession now and in the past. All it would take is for one of my ancestors to have owned an elephant or even earlier a dinosaur to beat me.

I'm almost positive that several hundred generations ago one of my great great grandfathers to the power of 30 had a pretty extensive harem and that beats any collection of items I can claim.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Easy

There's just more stuff to have. Fifty years ago, there wasn't nearly the stuff we have now.

Imagine. Soon there'll be more stuff. I can't wait.

[TomClash]

4. Yeah . . .

More Republicans can stuff themselves with stuffing and buy more stuff. Oh, boy. Stuff.

[dweller]

2. electronics, for instance

now skip back a generation, or two.

you have them beat hands down.
dp

[whistle]

3. But they had horse and cows and chickens and pigs

[dweller]

6. and we have

automobiles, pets (not livestock) and computers and tvs and radios and ipods and printers and coffemakers and coffegrinders and electricgriddles and blenders and vcrs, dvds and dvd players and speakers and total room surround sound systems and telephones and cellphones and satellite systems and cameras and electronic tools of every wish and fantasy and ... stuff...lots and lots of stuff.

We throw away more than most people ever have access to, a cow or a chicken would be a lifesaver to many in need.

check a local landfill and get back to me. seriously, i'm not trying to be ornery but look around.

less is more.
dp, your local luddite.

[Toots]

5. I want stuff.......

Where's my stuff????

[prole_for_peace]

7. All the self storage places would seem to be proof of that .

My grandparents home had two 3 x 4 closets. that was it. my house has 3 3 x 8 closets and that isn't enough for just me.

[enough]

8. Within my lifetime I have seen the change.

I'm sixty years old. I can remember when it was not uncommon for people to have only one or two pairs of shoes at any given time. Now people have shoes for every possible use, sport, and occasion. You had "a winter coat." Your parents decided each year whether you were going to need a new one that year. Now you have endless coats, jackets, windbreakers, etc. This is so common that we don't even think about it.

Same goes for every category of possessions. How many kinds of luggage do you own? How many back-packs, totes, briefcases, carry-ons, etc. etc.
How many different kinds of sporting gear?

I remember when it was quite unusual to own a television. People went to visit other people to watch something on TV. Then everybody had ONE TV. Now a lot of people have one in every room and one in each SUV. How many telephones? Radios? Computers?

I have no trouble at all believing that author's statement.